International applicants

International applicants must meet a few other requirements in addition to the nursing program application requirements. These requirements ensure your success in clinical placements and the overall program.

Proof of English Proficiency

Non-native English speakers must provide proof of English language proficiency set by the UW School of Nursing. You can waive this requirement only if you either:

have received a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited school in the United States, or from a school in the following countries:

Australia

The Bahamas

Canada

Ireland

Jamaica

Kenya

New Zealand

Singapore

Trinidad and Tobago

United Kingdom; or

can provide official evidence that their previous degree instruction was in English

English Proficiency Scores

Submit two scores, one from each category below (scores must be from within the past two years):

1 general minimum English proficiency score, and

1 speaking only score

Minimum General Score: Reading/Writing/Comprehension*

Minimum Spoken English Score

IELTS**

7.0

IELTS (speaking only)

7.0

TOEFLiBT

92

TOEFLiBT (speaking only)

26

TOEFLC

237

Versant English Test

70

TSE

55

*Successful completion of the University of Washington Intensive English Program before admission to the University of Washington will substitute for one of the reading/writing/comprehension test scores above. You must still submit a minimum Spoken English test score.

**We are phasing out usage of IELTS. IELTS with a test session date after November 1, 2016 will not be accepted.

IELTS has been removed as a test type from the “Report English Proficiency Scores” section of the online application. Applicants can still electronically report the official test score by following instructions in the FAQs (Tests > Will you accept my IELTS test?).

Active Washington State RN Licensure

DNP applicants must have an active, unrestricted Washington State RN license to begin study.

This process will determine if you are eligible to take the RN licensing exam, National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), here in Washington State. You must successfully pass the NCLEX-RN exam to receive RN licensure.

If you have a U.S. RN license in a state other than Washington

DNP applicants must be currently licensed in a state in the U.S. in order to be eligible to apply. If you are admitted to the DNP program, you are required to have a RN license in Washington State to begin the program.

Transcript Evaluations

You must send foreign transcript evaluations from an approved evaluation service for any college or university you have attended outside the United States.

Send official foreign transcripts to one of the evaluation services listed below for a course-by-course U.S. equivalency report. Have the evaluation reports sent to you. Your application will include:

Original foreign transcripts with English translations (if applicable; include in your online UW MyGrad application)

You do not need to submit a foreign transcript if you attended a foreign university through a study abroad program and the credits appear on your school’s transcript, but you must submit a foreign transcript and evaluation if you are using a course taken internationally as a prerequisite course.

Approved Transcript Evaluation Services

American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)